Greetings fellow porch dwellers and visitors--I've been consumed with researching to see if I could find a publisher who accepts unsolicited manuscripts for a full length book of poems of Christian inspiration and challenge and of praise to God. One place I checked out for a contest responded that their judges were agnostics--oops! I have completed also a shorted book of humerous poems. If it's meant to be, they'll find a publisher. If not, we'll just wait and see.

It was good to get caught up on the news. Joanney, I''m so glad you came through the surgery well--praying new for a speedy recovery. Carol, I hope you'll improve all the time--and Allison, too.

What time I wasn't diligently searching, I've been glued to the TV. I'm thankful that some have had the opportunity to witness for God through this. I pray for our nation to see the great need we have for God.

We received 8"-12" of heavy snow three days ago. The local weather guys are predicting that 6"-8" more of the stuff will be dumped on us later today and tonight.

The spring birds are packing their bags for a trip back to warmer, snow-free areas of the globe. Farmers are filling garbage cans with the seeds they hoped to plant because: 1) The fields will be too mucky for their equipment, and 2) the growing season will be too short for crops to mature.

Enough already! This is getting old!

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Morning all - had a wonderful weekend with relatives (and dogs) up from Wilmington. They brought me a pecan pie from Apple Annies (popular in Wilmington). Anyway, the cottage was full and joyful sounds of children rang out till this morning (everyone left). Only thing for me to do is start the cleaning process. Everyone stripped their beds so at least I don't have to do that ... but I have been gathering up dog bowls and the dishwasher is full again. There's at least one piece of pecan pie left, I probably will be forced to wash the plate it is on ... of course the pie will need to be consumed prior.

During a hard-fought football game there are many sounds heard throughout the fierce battle with the pigskin.

The quarterback shouts the play code to his team. Helmets and shoulder pads make crashing sounds as the teams rush forward and make contact with others. The referee's shrill whistle pierces the air signaling a penalty. The non-stop roar of the crowd adds to the excitement of the game.

However, there is another sound not often heard.

If one listens carefully, the moment after the kicker makes foot contact, a painful sounding "oink" can be heard emerging from the ball.

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

So you're back to entertaining half of the East coast in your lovely home? I don't blame you. I used to do it all the time, too, until my back decided otherwise. Even so, we still have company all the time since our son and his two boys moved in with us. I pretty much stay in the back of the house and listen to all the noise up front through several closed doors. We do enjoy them, though, even though their friends who attended the sleep-over here Saturday night all but moved our house off its pilings.

Don, your attempt at humor was apparently wasted on me since I know zilch nada nothing about football. But I'm sure the rest will enjoy it. I heard from another friend this week that it's been so hot where she lives that she now believes in global warming. I told her to check in with my Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other northern-midwestern friends. They're up to their ears in snow and expect it to last until August.

OK, here's my attempt at humor:

As a guitarist, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played ‘Amazing Grace,’ the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my guitar and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”

Mariane Holbrook

"For you are dead to yourself and your life is hid with Christ in God."Colossians 3:3

Edy wrote:That will be easy to remember, Don. We have another hip replacement surgery also scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday.

Our senior pastor, Roland, is supposed to have his formerly replaced hip replaced again.He is looking forward to having it over and done with!

It's my understanding they only last 10-15 years - depending on usage during that time. Is that right?

I wonder how one knows when the replaced hip needs replacing again? Does it become loose and rattle? Are you known as swivel hips without doing the Chubby Checker twist dance? Does it pop out of joint when you sit down or bend over?

Just wondering...

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Sometimes I enjoy watching the Food Network channel. Not only do I learn a few new things, but I also learn of food recipes I would never want to eat.

Okay, all of you born and raised southerners...listen up!

Have you ever heard of battered, deep fried grits? They showed a Florida resturant making them a little while ago. Somehow they were thickened enough to form into a patty, then, were dipped in a special batter and deep fried.

The grit patty was placed onto a sliced biscuit slathered with butter. Then, layers of thin sliced ham were added. Then, some heat softened cheese was poured onto the ham layers. A fried egg was stacked on top of the cheese before adding the top half of the biscuit. The sandwich was finished after spooning generous amounts gravy on top.

The result was a special southern biscuit and gravy sandwich conplete with grits, ham, cheese, and egg for your breakfast enjoyment.

Of course, the calorie and fat content was not mentioned. I think I will stick with my Cheerios and OJ for breakfast.

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Edy wrote:That will be easy to remember, Don. We have another hip replacement surgery also scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday.

Our senior pastor, Roland, is supposed to have his formerly replaced hip replaced again.He is looking forward to having it over and done with!

It's my understanding they only last 10-15 years - depending on usage during that time. Is that right?

I wonder how one knows when the replaced hip needs replacing again? Does it become loose and rattle? Are you known as swivel hips without doing the Chubby Checker twist dance? Does it pop out of joint when you sit down or bend over?

Just wondering...

Don

I've heard 20+ years these days. I know I'll have to go in once per year for an x-ray and that's normally how they monitor it, as far as I know.

And I'm looking forward to having all my "precautions" over and done with! May 8th! 2 weeks on Wednesday! (Not that I'm counting down, or anything. ) It's not that it's HARD to do things with the precautions so much as I am sick and tired of thinking about how to do something as simple as sitting down and standing up so I don't go past 90 degrees or go past mid-line, or things like that. I realize I may not be able to do those things immediately, but it will be nice not to have to think about it and not have to worry about accidentally doing the things I'm not supposed to do.

I don't recall how many years (but fewer than 20) it has been for our pastor's hip (both were done due to some sort of congenital hip problems all his life). But, he had a couple falls this winter, and apparently destabilized the one hip, which afterward dislocated more than once. Here's what he just submitted for our prayer links:

...They will go into the hip, take it apart, and see what they find. If the metal parts are still well-bonded, then they'll just pop out the worn plastic liner, pop in a new one and stitch it up. However, if the metal has begun to let loose, then it'll get more interesting, with more carpentry involved....

Carol, I'm glad to read the good report from your sister. I also wanted to ask how Carissa is doing with her job. She's been so terribly taken advantage of in that position that I hope things have straightened out for her. Carissa has a lot piled on her from many directions and my heart aches for her. But she has praying parents who dearly love her and you can't begin to put a price tag on that. God bless her sweet heart.

Laurie, I don't know if you'll be able to read this so I may message you on Facebook about it, too. In the latest "Christianity Today" is a big article about eating disorders that might interest you. Here's the link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/ ... ction.html

How many of you have a Hardee's fast-food restaurant near you? John stops by there every week (since it's next door to McDonald's where he has breakfast with the rest of the 12 Disciples every morning) to get me a half dozen of their biscuits. Even my own mother couldn't make them this good! (I hope she's not looking down from heaven and reading this! ) But I've become addicted to these biscuits! I cut them in two horizontally, scrape out the soft middle which I don't care for, and put the two halves in the toaster oven until they're golden brown and crisp. Then I lather them with real butter! Omigoodness, you can't believe how good they are with a cup of coffee. In fact, I'm heading to the kitchen now to fix one. The biscuits are HUGE. The pctures don't do them justice. http://www.google.com/search?q=hardee's ... 920%3B1280